The present work aimed to study the genetic variability, estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters and to conduct the prediction of genetic values of individuals of irrigated açai tree in the state of Pará. The objective was the selection and genetic improvement of the production of fruits, using the REML/BLUP procedure applied in the progenies for the characters height of the first cluster, total cluster mass, total fruit mass, number of clusters, mean cluster weight, average length of the leaf rachis, average number of rachillas, number of tillers and average mass of one hundred fruits. Fifty progenies were evaluated in two 5 x 5 lattice design with two replications and linear plots- of five plants each, in a 5 m x 5 m spacing. The software Selegen- Reml/Blup was used for the genetic analyses and identification of the best individuals to compose the population for seed production (short-term program) and of improvement (long-term program). The estimation of genotipic correlation was high between total fruit mass and number of cluster and average among total fruit mass and average cluster mass and number of rachillas. The estimates of the genetic parameters obtained in the present study show excellent selective potential of the population and sufficient genetic variability for the genetic improvement of the population in short and long terms. Considerable genetic gain of 45.33% relative to the average of the experiment can be obtained with the election of the 20 best individuals for the character total production of fruits.
predicting gain; genetic parameters; Reml/Blup; Euterpe oleracea; fruit tree
